Should I report them? Shoplifting friends?

Question

I went shopping with my new high school friend for the first time. I'm only 14 and she and her friend are 17. I always pay for everything and have never shoplifted or agreed with shoplifting before, but now I'm worried.

Anyway, I went to the mall with them and was in the changing room trying out different clothes, so I didn't see that they had taken anything. But later, right when we were about to leave the entire mall, I found out that they had stolen a lot! I never saw them put anything in their purses, but then I found out later. I told her to go give it back, but she said that if she did that, then she would get prosecuted. We were already leaving the area, and if I tried to run back to the store, she would have stopped me.

They've gotten warnings before for shoplifting. Citations, I think they're called? I'm going to ask my mom for advice, but I don't know what I should do. She told me not to tell anyone and that she felt bad and won't do it again, but now I'm having second thoughts.

I was there with them, but I never saw them actually steal the items until it's too late! I've never been with people who shoplifted?

Should I report them or will security eventually find out anyway? I'm sure the workers knew they were stealing. I didn't steal a thing, but I feel guilty for knowing they did. If I report it, would I get in trouble too? I don't want to hurt my parents by getting into trouble even though I had no part in it and no knowledge until after they stole.

I don't know what I should do. Please help me.

Answer 1

It's not worth the trouble to report them for shoplifting. Without physical evidence the stores and the police are unlikely to pursue charges.



Do not have anything more to do with these girls.



They are going to get you in trouble. If something goes wrong they will try to implicate you to get themselves out of trouble. Both could tell the police the same thing, that you are the ringleader and agree to testify against you to spare themselves the charges.



Thieves are thieves. They will steal from anybody. That means they will steal from you. Don't ever let them in your house. They cannot be trusted.

Answer 2

Reporting it will do little more than make them aware for next time. The store cannot stop your "friends" for a theft they did not see or have no evidence of. You might choose your friends a little better. Just a note if they are caught shoplifting and you are with them you too can be charged! Need more try the forum site below they will have your answers

Answer 3

I think that if I were you (a 14 y/o girl and not a prosecutor), I wouldn't report them but I would never be friends with them again. You could have been caught and presumed to be the "lookout" or "distraction" so they could steal.



You do NOT need to be friends with people like this. And if they will rip the stores off, they don't seem like people you should trust as friends.



Discuss it with your parents--they will help you decide what is the right thing to do under the circumstances.

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my cousin for her it happened before i got a chance, she was caught putting things in her bag on the escalators by a member of staff but I would go round the shops and describe her to them and say she like mugged you or something lol although it may be a bit weird or just threaten to tell her parents! Good luck!

Answer 5

You sound like a good person but do not report them. They did it it's over with now. If you are 14 your shouldn't really hang out with 17 year old girls anyway. But umm yeah dont report them it doesnt matter. Dont go shopping with them again though because if they get caught you get brought down too

Answer 6

you could tell your own parents

also you should think of this have you every wonder why priices

are so high in some department stores?

that because stores have to pay for shopplifters, they have to pay get more secuirty, more CCTV and other items

result its the shoppers now have to pay for something

so you can thank you friends for rasing the prices on the stuff we buy

aslo when ANYONE tell you not tell anyone thatts when YOU SHOULD tell someone!

they may hate you afterword but they might latrer relized that

you want to help them stop and the only way to do that is to tell

someone (your mom for instant)

you can say sorry I cant be friends who steal,

Answer 7

If your friends had been caught, and you were there, they would have found some way to charge you too. My husband was with friends who stole stuff, and even though he was all the way across the store, and had NOTHING to do with it .. they charged him with being a lookout and had to pay a $200 fine... and thats gonna be on his record. Do not get mixed in with these people if you value your future. I would ask your mom to accompany you back to the store and inform them, or a security guard what you had found out. I would worry about not being friends with them anymore, they dont seem like much anyhow.

Answer 8

Be careful store security cannot do anything unless they saw someone steal the items and it's to up to your friends to do the right thing to admit to to the store that they were shoplifting and turn themselves in.

Answer 9

ok so they stole the stuff



you dont want to get in trouble(even though you didnt do anything) and they dont either



just let it slip your memory and if your friend said she wont do it again so if she really is a friend she wont do it again

she might tell the other people not to do it again too



but if they do tell them you are really upset and feel like you have done something and want to take it back (also tell them before you go shopping that you dont like it)



if they do steal and want to keep it you can warn them that you are really scared and will tell the cops (you wont get in trouble)



good luck!

Answer 10

Honey, you need to tell the authorities about this ASAP because I'm sure your friends were seen on camera while they were shoplifting and you were seen with them. If they get caught, they're gonna say you had been involved and you could get in serious trouble.

Answer 11

I would. It's better to be caught now and pay the price than wait until it escalates into a bigger problem. While they would be upset now, you would actually be doing them a favor. You don't want to be associated with people like that anyway as you could possibly be implemented. I would definitely report them to the store's security and stop hanging out with them.

Answer 12

that's a pure judgment call, on one hand they are you Friends however if you go shopping with them and they get caught you will be an ACCESSORY buddy. Look no one likes a rat but seriously think about you future and perhaps take a leap.



but honestly: give your friends a stern warning and if they don't listen just go away.

Answer 13

You really need to report it! Because if they end up caught you'll be in trouble too! You knew about it and didn't tell anyone.



I would do it. They aren't think kinds of friends you want.

Answer 14

It would be a mistake on your part if you went into store with them.If they got caught,and you were with them, you could be just as guilty as they are if you had knowledge of the crime.

Answer 15

First think about these questions:

How are you going to benefit from telling on them?

What are you doing it for?

Are you going to get a reward? (probably not)....

....Think about what might happen if you tell..

think about what might happen if you do not tell...

weigh the consequences (if there are any) of both situations...

and ask yourself this question...

Why would I want to involve myself in this whole situation?

Answer 16

You're right, they will get caught eventually. In the meantime, you need to find new friends. These girls aren't your friends.

Answer 17

Report them anonymously.

Answer 18

Yes you don't want a friend who is A Thief

Answer 19

You can't report without evidence

Answer 20

rofl your a good friend...

dont report em

just you dont do it



girls make the best friends

Answer 21

wut kinda friend would u be just talk to them or quit going to the mall with them its really not that hard but if u tuen them in & u were my friend id hate u.. just being honest

Answer 22

NO, get new friends.